Greenfield board votes to keep virtual school

GREENFIELD (AP) - The Greenfield School Committee has reversed an earlier decision and voted to keep the first virtual school in Massachusetts open.

The committee voted earlier this month to stop operating the 3-year-old Massachusetts Virtual Academy, because under a new state law, they would have to apply to the state to run it like a charter school. On Thursday they voted to draft a proposal to the state to keep operating the school.

The committee voted after hearing from a state education official who said there was some confusion over the transition of the school from local to state control.

Students and parents actively lobbied in favor of the school.

The school serves about 470 students who for various reasons, including medical, cannot attend a traditional bricks-and-mortar school. Students communicate with state-certified teachers online.

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